Miles away from the finish line

The minute I saw the ground barrelling towards me I knew it wasn’t a good idea to hurl myself out of a plane and the annoyance I currently feel towards myself sitting in bed icing my collar bone supports what I felt in that moment. Every year on new year’s my family and I compete in a race to see who can complete the most goals on their bucket list. Joe, my cousin, has been reigning champion for the past two years. This year, I really thought I had the Bucket List trophy in the bag, you know, jumping out of a plane and all, but turns out I am tied with Joe. So to one up my cousin, I wanted to complete a goal that’s been on my bucket list for the past two years, the Ironman. Problem is, I broke my collar bone sky diving and I only have 10 hours to complete a 2.4 mile swim, a 112 mile bicycle ride and a 26.22 mile run. I should have known to leave sky diving for last but when you see other people jumping out of planes they make it look so easy. Anyways, that’s not the point, the point is I only have 10 hours left before New year’s and I have to come up with something fast. Taking a look at my bucket list there is only one more thing, other than the Ironman that I haven’t completed. Going on a first date.

Now you may think this is an easy one, but every time I’ve tried to complete this goal, something has gone wrong. But this year is going to be my year. The only problem now is to find someone to go out with me. The first idea that comes to mind is hiring someone from some sort of dating service but I don’t think that counts, I'm broke and I actually want to be getting something out of this experience.

So I guess I’ll have to do it the way everyone’s doing it these days, online.

Now you might be thinking that I’m talking about some sort of dating app like Tinder or Bumble but let me emphasis, I have 10 hours before my cousin Joe takes the cake. So I’m going to get all my friends to post it on their social media, in hopes of one of our followers agreeing to go on a date with me.

A couple of minutes after the notifications going out, I've already got back some replies. Most of them saying “are you really that desperate”, but 2 agonizing hours later, I get a reply that restores my hopes on winning the Bucket List trophy. Mike, a man I have never heard of, offers to meet me in the park in five minutes to walk his dog together and to get coffee. I made it to the park in less than 3 minutes and wait for over an hour for Mike. He was a no show. I now have a bit over 6 hours to find a date and hope that Joe doesn’t come up with any other Bucket List ideas. Guy number 2 that messages me seems interested at the beginning but as we continue to talk about his intentions it becomes clear very quickly that he only wants to Netflix and Chill, if you know what I mean.

And that, ladies and gentleman, is when my fairytale/wattpad moment happens. Walking towards my car with 4 hours left before the deadline, calling all my male contacts in hopes of finding someone to go out with me, I run into my knight in shining armer. Miles, who was on a run, barrels straight into me and knocking me off my feet. He catches me mid fall and apologizes profusely saying if there is any way he can make it up to me, I should just name it. I have never seized an opportunity faster in my life. I sum what force Miles into joining me for New Years at my parents’ house. Miles doesn't bat an eye at my request and agrees, saying he’ll pick me up in an hour. Arriving home, I use the hour to get as glammed up as possible and when the doorbell rings, my heart stops.

Saying I have never been so happy to see someone my whole entire life is an understatement. Miles takes the whole date thing very seriously as he arrives in a black suit, flowers in hand and when we head towards the car, he even opens the car door for me. The ride over to my parents’ house is filled with me explaining the game, telling him about my failed attempts at finding a date and him laughing at me. Arriving, I ring the doorbell and nerviously await my judgment day. But as the door opens Miles introduces himself as my date and my parents congratulate me for finally finishing my goal.

The evening is a buzz, filled with stories of family members failes or triumphs completing tasks on their bucket lists. Miles always listens intently and it turns out he is just as competitive as we are. My family suggests Miles and I team up for the next year in which Miles spends the next half an hour persuading me. 5 minutes before 00:00, everyone is gathered in the lounge writing their Bucket Lists for the new year until the countdown starts. 10, 9 , 8, 7, 6, 5, 4 ,3 ,2 and Miles’s lips are on mine. Fireworks erupt outside the windows and in my stomach. The room breaks out in cheers as the clock chimes midnight. As Miles and I break apart, I grin at him. Miles next comment catches me completely off guard. “I’ve just completed the first goal on our Bucket List for the new year.” My family cheers and wishes each a happy new year.

Miles and I have been together ever since and the reigning champions of the Bucket List challenge competition.